Author's (long) note: This is my first ever Sailor Moon fan fic, because I've never been a huge fan of that anime. I've watched it ever since I was four, but it never hit me as deep and meaningful. Just recently I started re-watching the Sailor Moon S series and it finally hit me what a meaningful and wonderful relationship that Michiru and Haruka had. I never ever read or write slash/yuri fics and yet, I truly believe Michiru and Haruka have something really special going on between them. For once in my life, I support a relationship between the same gender so it really surprised me and motivated me to write something about them. With this fic, I really just want to portray both of them and their relationship in an AU way mixed with the usual drama of course, but still keeping that unique bond that they both have. Okay, I'll shut up now and hope you enjoy this first chapter. It is very short and I'm not pleased by the shortness, but it is the first chapter and I only wanted to introduce everyone to you all first. Thank you )
Disclaimer: I do not own Bishoujo Sailor Moon or any of its characters except for Kazuki who I made up randomly on the spot. The original manga rightfully belongs to Takeuchi Naoko.
by Enchanted Ice Star
Even then I knew I was different. They wore denim jeans frayed at the edges and loose t-shirts tucked into high waistbands. They rolled around in the sandbox like it was a moral thing to do, and dirt smudges were accepted on their chubby cheeks. I had looked down at my own little hands that day and stared at my clean nails and fingers scrubbed pink. I had glanced up that day, towards the swing set and playground at all the other little kids with two eyes, two arms, and two legs; like me. And yet, even then at my young age I felt an odd sense of not belonging.
"Who are you?"
I had blinked confusedly at the girl that had suddenly appeared before me, her small hands placed on her tiny waist as her dirt smudged nose bobbed in front of me. I stepped back only to bump into a boy who was also staring at me curiously. "Yeah, I've never seen you before."
"You dress funny," another girl stated, looking at my puffy, turquoise checkered dress. "You remind me of my dolly."
Another girl with her hair tied up in lop-sided pigtails giggled while jumping up and down. "Dolly! Dolly!"
"I'm not a doll," I had replied, my voice soft and barely audible over the loud and wild children around me. I was there age, perhaps even younger, but I felt like I was older, wiser, beyond their years. I did not understand then, and I still didn't quite comprehend it.
"Then who are you?" Another boy sneered, sand tousled in his messy hair, his overalls too big for his small form.
I did not know why I was tearing, my small fists clenched into tiny balls as my aqua hair shook around me. I had stared at them all, defiantly, stubbornly, and thought quickly. Mother always told me my name was Michiru. Kaioh Michiru, but I hadn't wanted to tell the mean little kids my name. Father always told me I was to be his perfect little girl, and mother always nodded fervently beside him and I always heard her in my dreams telling me exactly what, or who I was.
"I'm perfect."
10 years later
It was late and I was still at the library. I was already in eleventh grade, sixteen years old, and was perfectly capable of getting my driver's license. But of course, father had shook a finger at the utter prospect and mother had shrieked shrilly. Their little girl could not drive, definitely not! Cars and driving were for boys and girls without a glorious future planned ahead for them. So, I was to wait for my driver to come pick me up as I sat on the library steps with my books clutched in my arms, the night breeze soothing and calming as it wrapped around my petite form.
"Good night, Michiru!" A girl in the same grade as I, and also attending Mugen Academy, waved and skipped down the steps. I waved and smiled, watching as the girl disappeared into the darkness. I sighed and looked away, staring at my own feet tucked neatly underneath me. I mentally thought over what I had to do tonight; practice violin, do some extra reading, and simply be the perfect Kaioh Michiru that I was.
"Kaioh-san! What are you doing here so late?"
A male voice broke my thoughts as I looked up into kind auburn eyes. It was Kazuki, a senior at Mugen and a year ahead of me. He was a very nice person and treated me somewhat like a little sister. He stood in front of me now, still in his uniform, his schoolbag slung over one shoulder.
"I'm just waiting for my dri--my dad," I lied hesitantly. I did not know why. I always hated how I had a 'driver' to pick me up, when others could go about on their own or it was their own beloved parents that took the time to pick them up. I lived in a different story though. My parents were too busy. They were both business folks who had to manage a hotel chain and record company. Picking up their little girl? That was definitely out of their daily schedule.
Kazuki smiled gently, "You want me to drive you home?"
I smiled, touched by his offer but shook my head. "My dad's expecting me to be here for him to pick up," I continued on with my little story, unaware that my own lying skills were improving day by day. I kept a calm expression on my face and thanked Kazuki, who merely nodded and said good night.
I hugged my knees and shivered. The school uniform wasn't very warm and I was slowly growing impatient. Where was that driver? The streets were empty, the street lamps glowing like fireflies in the darkness. I listened intently to the distant sounds of cars zooming by as I shut my tired eyes. The breeze became a song, and I could feel my violin tucked underneath my chin and the comforting bow resting in my hand. I mentally made up a soothing tune that sounded like water crashing against rocks and ballerinas dancing and nearly got lost in my own musical world when loud rowdy shouts marred my beautiful imagination.
My eyes snapped open and I stood up on instinct. I stepped down the last few stone steps leading to the library and listened again. Lots of shouting. Lots of grunting. A sudden pang sounding like metal hitting something rang through the still night air. I brought a hand to my chest as I narrowed my eyes, curiousity biting at me as I followed the sound down the block.
It sounded like a fight.
My mind immediately told me to go away. Go back to the library steps, but my instincts carried me forward. There was a groan. I squinted as I turned a corner leading to a small alley where the light from the streetlamps did not reach. I could see a group of people, men most likely, with broad shoulders and strong arms. I wanted to turn then, run away from whatever was happening, but I couldn't. I shrunk back a few metres and watched as one of the men punched a figure sprawled against the wall. It wasn't fair, I thought indignantly. Four against one. The one being hit would definitely have no chance.
But what was I suppose to do? Throw my polished shoes at them? Flip my hair and tell them to leave the guy alone? I bit my small lip and decided against it. I would do something about it, but something smarter.
"Police! Police! Right here, they're right here!" I found myself calling out urgently, beckoning to invisible figures from down the road. I looked nervously over my shoulder to see the four men look up fearfully at each other, their features barely noticeable in the dim light. I continued my senseless shouting for the make-believe police until I saw the four scamper away and down the alley.
I took a breath and silenced myself, tucking a strand of loose aqua hair as I took careful steps towards the fallen figure on the ground. I dropped my schoolbag next to my feet as I crouched down, frowning deeply at the wounded young man before me. He was quite the sight, and I knew he was definitely a handsome one underneath the blood dribbling down from a cut on the forehead. He had sandy blonde hair, strands crusted with blood falling in front of his eyes as I took a careful hand and brushed them aside to get a better look. He flinched.
I shrunk back automatically. "Hey, you're going to be okay."
His brow furrowed as he grunted a response, his eyes fluttering open to reveal strong teal eyes. His eyes were glazed over, and I was mesmerized by the sheer beauty of them. He smiled slightly, his lips quirking just a bit as he managed to say, "Glad it was such a pretty girl to save me."
I did not know why I flushed at his words. Sweet flattery was never a thing that hit me. I was immune to it, at least, I thought I was. No other male being in the world was able to faze me with flowery words, and yet this stranger had barely uttered a few words and I was blushing. I scolded myself mentally and was thankful that it was night and he probably could not see the tint of pink on my cheeks.
"Miss Kaioh! Miss Kaioh! There you are, you worried me sick!"
I immediately turned around and saw my driver making his way over towards me and the fallen young man. He took one look at me and the stranger and his eyes widened. "Miss Kaioh?"
"This young man is hurt," I stood up quickly and smoothed out my skirt. "Please, call an ambulance."
My driver nodded and took out his cell phone from his pocket. All the while, I could only helplessly watch as the young man before me fell into and out of cautiousness. The distant sound of sirens rang shrilly in my ear and I could only bend down again and take one of his gloved hands in my own.
"You'll be okay."
I yawned widely, remembering to place a hand over my mouth as I did so. It had been a late night and a history test first thing in the morning wasn't very much desired. I entered the orderly and pristine Mugen Academy, greeting many as I made my way to my locker with my schoolbag on one shoulder and my violin case banging gently on the other side of my leg.
"Good morning Michiru-chan!"
I turned my head and smiled. "Morning Ami."
"You look tired," my blue haired friend commented with a worried look. "Have you been studying too hard?"
I laughed airily, placing my bag into my locker and shuffling through the many textbooks lining the top shelf of it. "Am I hearing correctly? Miss Ami telling me I've been studying too hard?"
Ami flushed, "Stop teasing!"
I smiled despite myself. Ami was my one best friend. It wasn't that I didn't have many friends, in fact, most of the school population wanted to be close to me. It was either because they were curious about the daughter of multi-millionaire parents, or they were just intent on getting close to the 'perfect' girl. I didn't want it though. Sometimes I really felt like no one else in the world could understand me, but Ami could at times. She was mature for her age and I too, and we shared similar hobbies. She was the only one I could really say I trusted.
"Swimming after school?" I asked as we headed off to history.
"Definitely," she nodded enthusiastically and smiled. "Did you hear about it?"
"About what?"
"Tenou Haruka was attacked last night near Central library," she explained in almost a hushed voice. "A girl found him and saved him or else he might've obtained even more serious injuries."
I tried to hide the shocked expression on my face. It sounded eerily similar to what occurred yesterday to myself. I tilted my head feebly, "Who's Tenou Haruka?"
"You don't know? Oh, but then again I wouldn't know either except I heard about it from Minako-chan. She's really obsessed with these silly idol figures," Ami giggled. "He's supposedly a star racer, but he doesn't race for the fame nor money. Supposedly he just did it because it's a real hobby of his, but he didn't realize he'd become so well-known for it. He doesn't even seem to want the fame. He's only sixteen too."
I nodded slowly, realizing that this racer boy was quite likely the handsome teal-eyed stranger I had saved yesterday. Ami then continued on quickly, "But that's not the point. Minako was thrilled and she even came to school early and bumped into me in the library. Tenou-kun seems to have transferred to Mugen."
Once again I had difficulty masking my surprise and a sudden inner worry that flared within myself. The only guy that could throw my composure out the window was here? In this very building? I clutched my heavy history textbook closer to my chest and found myself laughing, "Guess the girls will be having some fresh meat to claw at."
"I'm not looking forward to seeing it," Ami confessed with a laugh as we walked into the classroom.
We took our usual seats near the left side of the classroom and by the windows. I flipped opened my textbook, desperate to cram in a few last minutes of studying before Sensei handed out the test papers. When the class finally settled and the first morning bell rang, Sensei cleared his throat and shifted his glasses. I shut my textbook gingerly and looked up with a small tilt of my head.
"Before we begin our test, I would like to introduce a new student that will be joining us as of today."
I glanced sideways at Ami while she shot me a knowing look. We both eyed the other girls with amusement dancing in our eyes. Ami wasn't one to drool over handsome males while I liked to chase after my targets with talent, skill, and grace. I placed my chin on my palm as the door slid open and in came the very figure that had surfaced in my dreams the night before.
"Come in," Sensei nodded towards the tall, lean figure just as the female population in the classroom gasped and shrieked. I had to suppress my eyes from rolling skywards while Ami simply giggled beside me.
"Hello, my name is Tenou Haruka, nice to meet you all," his voice was smooth and confident as he gave the girls a flirtatious look. I mentally scowled for a brief moment. Another confident, overly handsome jerk that decided he could boast his features and get any girl. But then again, as I looked around the raving hungry female specimens around me whom were all ready to leap from their seats and eat up Tenou-kun, I decided that he might just be successful.
Then he caught my gaze.
My breath caught slightly as those same, beautiful teal eyes landed on me. He did not seem badly hurt. Only a bandage was wrapped around his forehead. His eyes narrowed slightly, and I knew that he somehow remembered me. Though the events of last night had been hasty and blurry, the dawning look in his teal orbs told me that he remembered. I decided to do what I did best and plaster a small smile on my pink lips. He wasn't the only confident being in the room, and I'd show that.
"You may take the empty seat there," Sensei pointed to an empty desk on the far right side of the room. "You will be excused from today's test as you haven't be given the material."
Haruka nodded and took his seat casually, the girls swooning as he passed by. I swore I heard some of them mutter dazedly, "He smells like flowers upon morning's dew drops!"
This time I could not suppress the roll of my eyes. When the females had finally contained themselves and the males finally stopped glaring, Sensei handed out the test and I immediately dismissed all thoughts concerning the handsome blonde haired young man. With a pen in one hand, I neatly printed my name on the top right corner of the thick booklet of papers and set to work.
"Name the two atomic bombs that reached Japan in WWII and describe their significance concerning..."
I wanted to spend my break alone. I did not know why, but everyone around me seemed to be struck with Haruka fever, males and females alike. Kazuki even passed me by and asked if I had seen the racer yet and I had politely nodded yes and said I needed to go to the bathroom. I wasn't a huge sports fan, but even then, I did not see the huge deal everyone was making. It was slightly unnerving that I wasn't the centre of attention for once.
But somehow, I liked it.
I could walk down the hallway without the constant cries of 'Michiru! Michiru! How was the swim meet?' or 'Michiru! Did your concert go well?'. It wasn't that I wasn't thankful for everyone's care and attention, but sometimes, it was suffocating. And it was tiring. The more I succeeded in life, the higher my expectations grew. Not just my own expectations, but the expectations of others. When I finally struggled to the top as the best national violinist, others began to say I could make it international. When I finally had the best time at the national swim meet, others started whispering that I'd definitely make the Olympic team.
Sometimes, I wished they would stop and let me breathe. It was like constant waves after waves of expectations and goals placed before me. When victory was mine, only it would be seen and none of the hard, grueling obstacles that came with it was acknowledged. I was suppose to be this wonder woman, always able to step forwards and onto the pedestal.
No one thought that I would step backwards, and that made me fear failure. I could not fail, because I did not want to disappoint. Sometimes I worried over my own mental state.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I nearly jumped out of my skin when a strong grip squeezed my shoulder. I spun around quickly, aqua hair whipping around me as I came face to face with the latest star of Mugen Academy. He let go and stepped back, looking sheepish. "Sorry, didn't mean to surprise you."
I gazed at him steadily, not wanting to let him have the satisfaction of frightening me nor wanting him to see the worries that had crossed my mind moments ago. "It's alright," I answered, glad that my voice was normal.
He ran a hand through his sandy locks and grinned. His grin was very charismatic, I had to note, but I could only keep a calm expression on my face as I clasped my hands in front of my school blouse. "I just wanted to thank you, for yesterday."
I smiled serenely with a tilt of my head, letting my wavy hair fall over my shoulder. "You're very welcome."
He seemed at lost for words and an awkward silence fell between us. I decided not to be a sore player and beamed, "I'm glad your wounds aren't that bad. In fact, I don't see many scratches."
"Oh, they only caused a few bumps and bruises," Haruka answered smoothly, his husky voice reminding me of shuffling winds. Then he added as an afterthought, "Of course, it's all thanks to you though, Miss. Michiru."
My eyes widened slightly and he laughed. "I don't remember introducing myself."
"You didn't," he replied. "Yet what student of Mugen Academy would I be if I did not know who Kaioh Michiru was? In fact, I'm a fan of your music. Your cover song for Swan Lake was breathtaking."
Once again I felt that burning desire to blush, but I used all the composure in the world to hold it back. I found myself offering another terse smile and sighed inwardly. Somehow, I had been hoping maybe he would just know me as Michiru. Plain Michiru. No expectations, no background to my life so I would not need to put on the facade of the never-failing, relentlessly perfect girl that I was suppose to be. My disappointment must have shone through because his gaze lost its excited shine and he seemed worried.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No, not at all," I quickly answered. "It's just, I usually play my violin during break for some of the other students and I've completely forgotten about it."
He smiled, "I've been to your concerts you know."
Once again I was surprised. He laughed, "Though I didn't get very good seats. I didn't think classical music was still so popular. I'd love to have a private concert one day," he confessed in what I recognized as a voice trying to lure a girl in. I mentally laughed at his antics, though enjoying it nonetheless. I decided to use my own talent and giggled into my hand.
"Maybe," I teased. "One day, when you deserve that privilege."
He raised both his eyebrows, amusement dancing in his eyes before he leaned over slightly, his face inches away from mine. "I guess I'll have to fight for it with all the strength I have," he leaned back, leaving me nearly breathless. "You truly make perfection feel envious in your wake."
I looked away quickly. Was I flattered by such strong words? I did not know, but the cold grip that unraveled within my chest slowly spread throughout my entire being until I felt like I could breathe no more. Once again, people were telling me I was perfect. Even more so than perfect . But then, I felt like no one. Because no one was perfect. And I was perfect. So I was no one.
I was so lost, yet no one knew. No one would ever think I, Kaioh Michiru, was a lost soul trying to gain some source of humanity. I felt inhuman almost, just a statue, a beautiful painting set on display. But my paint was drying ever so slowly, and I was dying day by day and the colours were chipping off of me as time went by. I quickly looked up and smiled faintly.
"I need to get going," I managed and turned away. My maroon school blouse suddenly reminded me of blood. Blood that I was bleeding within. Wanting to just let loose like a sudden tidal wave of red, hot, crimson blood. I sucked in a breath and took off, knowing that this Tenou Haruka might just be left in confusion as I walked away hurriedly, but I did not care. I heard him call out hesitantly, but I couldn't stop walking.
I just needed to breathe. I'm sorry.
AN: Yes this chapter is short, but don't worry, the other ones will be longer ;) I wanted to show insight on Michiru's character, so this story will be in her point of view. She is such a perfect girl in the anime and really, it seems almost inhuman for someone to be that perfect. I wanted to add a more realistic touch and show you what such a perfect person might just be thinking. Please review/comment because they are deeply appreciated! I need all the support I can get ;